Thank You and Good Luck Sim

When we see the high talent Rick and Matt are coming to bring in at the PG spot in the next 2 weeks, you will realize that Wilcher was never going to be trusted with PG responsibilities. He has a bad handle for a guard.

Again I love Sim as a person. He has been so nice in the times I have meet him, but he was NOT going to be a lead guard on a team for a coach who has Final Four aspirations, Again that is the rub with him transferring

You need multiple guys that can handle the ball. Wilcher has the best PG skills of anyone on the current roster. Even if we added a monster PG and Jackson, you would still want him on the roster. There is no basketball argument for not having Sim next year.

Sanon is a sloppy player. I expect him to really improve as soph. I expect Jackson to EXPLODE as a soph. Why wouldn't Sim as well?

We aren't a plug and play system like Alabama or Uconn. We need continuity. Houston is probably the most similar program to us and they had an absurd amount of returning players. 7 of their top 10 in minutes played their entire career at Houston.

Look two seasons ahead and who is coming back for us?
 
You need multiple guys that can handle the ball. Wilcher has the best PG skills of anyone on the current roster. Even if we added a monster PG and Jackson, you would still want him on the roster. There is no basketball argument for not having Sim next year.

Sanon is a sloppy player. I expect him to really improve as soph. I expect Jackson to EXPLODE as a soph. Why wouldn't Sim as well?

We aren't a plug and play system like Alabama or Uconn. We need continuity. Houston is probably the most similar program to us and they had an absurd amount of returning players. 7 of their top 10 in minutes played their entire career at Houston.

Look two seasons ahead and who is coming back for us?
NM
 
I think that’s entirely on topic. It’s why people can really cheer Sim even if he wasn’t first team all big east.

It’s why I sometimes remember Kyle Cuffe with more nostalgia than Mo Harkless. Sim and Cuffe weren’t the stars on the team, but they went through it worked hard hard, really got behind Zuby when we lost in paradise, or didn’t feel like going out because a loss isn’t something to celebrate.

There’s something about college basketball you really connect with. the NCAA, collectives, and broadcaster are doing their best to extinguish that, but it will never happen. College basketball will always have players like Sim and Cuffe.

Editors note: I like Mo Harkless I was just trying to think of a 3/4 guy that was successful in a short period at St. John’s. Sorry if Mo caught a stray.

Also, I do think the players should be paid and handsomely. And I don’t know the best way to do it.
Bingo
 
Bottom line is that if Ian doesn't commit (fingers crossed he does; especially now) and / or there isn't a public outcry for a starting PG then Sim stays. He won't start over Ian (again fingers crossed he commits) and Rick won't start him at PG. We can all cry about losing out on a great kid, but we are the one's clamoring to replace him in the rotation (well most of us; I'm sure some will say "not me"). If Ian commits, I will be thrilled because he is expected to be better than Sim. Then if Rick can pull a PG out of the ranks of another roster I will be thrilled again.

We can all be happy about watching Sim get 20 minutes a game split between SG, PG and SF and using the other 20 cheering on his teammates, but there is one guy that won't be happy with that role and that is why he went into the portal. We can hate it all we want, but SJU (on the court) will be better with the guys coming in and Sim will be better in another uniform. Hate losing a really good kid, but at this point we are in the world of employment at will. Sim gave us his notice and is finding another job. He will be missed, but this is what is best for him.
I don't want to "like" your post, but I agree with every word of it.
 
Next years roster will be head and shoulders above this one when all is said and done. I will miss Sim though.
Hey Ted, you're baaaack! From the 2-5 I would agree with you, but unless I'm proven wrong, we're not getting two points who could impact the game like Kadary and Dev. Now we may not need that kind of skill level, but we are going to need someone who can consistently get the ball to the rest of the players.
 
Generational? Absolutely has nothing to do with that. The days of developing prospects is over or at least for now. Rosters are being built to “reload” not rebuild. Unless you get Cooper Flagg type kids or a blue chipper that can come in right away and produce, Developing kids will be rare, especially for blue blood programs or top 25 teams. Unless the NCAA set some regulations to this new NIL( having kids commit and sign for a minimum of 2yrs), this will be the norm. I myself will miss the excitement of recruiting kids out of high school but unfortunately this is what it is for now.
Spot on. I hate this system and it definitely needs a lot of changes and guard rails

The question for those that are crying this morning over a kid entering the portal:

We sucked for 3 decades under the old system, and under the new system we won more than 30 games and a Big East regular season (40 years) and tournament title (25 years). As much as I think Pitino is a miracle worker as coach, we don't achieve such without the portal and the free transfers.

Just trying to keep it real because none of last year's Big East success occurs if we don't have the mercenary in Kadary.

Seton Hall should be crying right now, not us
 
You need multiple guys that can handle the ball. Wilcher has the best PG skills of anyone on the current roster. Even if we added a monster PG and Jackson, you would still want him on the roster. There is no basketball argument for not having Sim next year.

Sanon is a sloppy player. I expect him to really improve as soph. I expect Jackson to EXPLODE as a soph. Why wouldn't Sim as well?

We aren't a plug and play system like Alabama or Uconn. We need continuity. Houston is probably the most similar program to us and they had an absurd amount of returning players. 7 of their top 10 in minutes played their entire career at Houston.

Look two seasons ahead and who is coming back for us?
Looking 2 seasons ahead in this system is just dumb
 
Hey Ted, you're baaaack! From the 2-5 I would agree with you, but unless I'm proven wrong, we're not getting two points who could impact the game like Kadary and Dev. Now we may not need that kind of skill level, but we are going to need someone who can consistently get the ball to the rest of the players.
I am sure (I have no sources lol), we are getting a point guard whom the staff would have played over Sim.
 
Universally, our favorite player is Zuby. Wish we could create more Zubys in a lab. But he came here as a sophomore, as a player who struggled to get any time at Kansas.

No one knew he would become the face of the program. And we could not be more proud.

In a perfect college basketball world, Sim would take the torch from Zuby and became the face of the program as a senior. But those days are gone unfortunately. Even if they sign two year contracts, it still will not guarantee a fan can get too attached to that player.

Now, I just root for the team, and hopefully get to know their names before they portal and go somewhere else.

Sometimes progress, just for the sake of progress, sets us back decades.
 
Spot on. I hate this system and it definitely needs a lot of changes and guard rails

The question for those that are crying this morning over a kid entering the portal:

We sucked for 3 decades under the old system, and under the new system we won more than 30 games and a Big East regular season (40 years) and tournament title (25 years). As much as I think Pitino is a miracle worker as coach, we don't achieve such without the portal and the free transfers.

Just trying to keep it real because none of last year's Big East success occurs if we don't have the mercenary in Kadary.

Seton Hall should be crying right now, not us
I'll take the current version of adding players to the program over anything else (including the Fran and Jarvis days). It's weird but the excitement of winning and being relevant again is amazing, Rick wants another chip before he retires and we may finally have our day in the sun.
 
Let me say this, as a fan winning is thrilling and this season was totally awesome. That said, when I attend the games in person you tend to get a feel for some of the players and in Sim's case he was a very likable guy. He would go into the stands after games and sign autographs. He was very positive. I asked to take a picture of him post-game to share with my friend's young daughter who was a big Sim fan and he could not have been more gracious or amenable. Whether he was playing or on the bench, he always supported his teammates. It is a periphal benefit of being a fan of a team that the players are guys that you would be proud to know.

For what it is worth this year's team had a bunch of those type of guys from Sim to Kadary to Ibine-Ayo to Zuby etc. there was something in each of those players charcters that was admirable. This is very different then the feeling I had when watching the team during the Pittsburgh scandal days.

I understand the current climate of the Transfer Portal and the NIL but it does not mean that I cannot feel a bit sad when likeable high charcter guys like Sim leave.
 
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